Cognitive: Students will understand that there are times when it is important to get in touch with their inner world to sort out their identities and find new reserves of energy and peace. Affective: Students will feel rejuvenated and revived by the exercises. They will have tools for renewing themselves by turning inward at times. Behavioral: Students will describe ways to access their inner worlds. They will state parts of a poem that particularly affected and aided them in their journey of self-discovery.
Materials needed:
An electronic device to play soft music
CDs of soft, soothing music
Or a guitar or other acoustic instrument
Ask for a student volunteer to recount the story of “My Inner World.” Ask for other volunteers to fill in any important points that might have been left out.
Ask students if they can sympathize with the way Julie feels. Do they ever wish they could just scream and make the whole world go away so they can have some peace? Do they ever wish they could find a quiet, safe, private place where they could just relax for a while with no hassles, no worries, no one bothering them? It often is in just such a place or space where people can get in touch with their true selves. Sometimes, in the quietness of our hearts, we find a great deal of truth.
Instruct students to sit back and close their eyes, or to lay their heads on their desks, if that is comfortable. They might even be allowed to lie on the floor, if there is enough room and the floor is clean and comfortable. Mention that even though they are still in school and still with a teacher and peers, you would like them to try their best to relax and find a peaceful place within.
Play soft music or sing softly or have a talented student sing or play an instrument soothingly for about ten minutes. If this is not possible, simply maintain silence for about ten minutes. Then ask the students to return to their seats quietly and assume a listening position.
Ask: “Do you feel a sense of renewed energy—a sense of calmness and clarity now? Do you feel peace?” Hopefully, they will say they do. Explain that getting in touch with the inner world almost always opens up new sources of energy in a person. It is a form of rest and renewal.
Ask students to do the Questions for Reflection.
Explain that our true self, or “the real me,” is a place of peace and rightness. There is much virtue and wisdom buried within each one of us that the noise of the world sometimes drowns out. The “real me” is a wonderful and good person who intuitively knows right from wrong and longs to live in a world of peace and in peace and happiness with all others and with nature. This is the “real me” this series hopes to awaken and uncover.
Ask the students to read the Exercise: “Family Movie” and to fill it in when they have an opportunity at home.
Class Session 2
Remind students of the story “My Inner World.” Ask them to resume the relaxed, quiet position they were in at the beginning of the last class session. Then slowly read to them this poem by Max Ehrmann, who wrote it in 1927:
Desiderata (Latin for “Things to Be Desired”)
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
Ask students to reflect on the words. Then ask them to resume listening positions. What parts of the poem struck them? Was there any part they would like to hear read again? If students want copies of the poem, perhaps it could be photocopied from the teacher’s book or copied down. Many young people have found this poem to be a good way to get in touch with their true selves or the “real me.”
Now ask students to do the Reflection Exercise: “My Inner World.”
Mention to students that if they cannot find a place to physically be at peace and away from everything and everyone, writing a journal or diary can help them escape into their deepest thoughts. Encourage them to express themselves on paper whenever they feel overflowing with emotion. Explain that this can be done in a letter form to an imaginary friend or to their parents or to some adult they imagine as a perfectly loving, totally supportive confidante who loves them completely.
Lesson Objectives
Cognitive: Students will understand that there are times when it is important to get in touch with their inner world to sort out their identities and find new reserves of energy and peace. Affective: Students will feel rejuvenated and revived by the exercises. They will have tools for renewing themselves by turning inward at times.
Behavioral: Students will describe ways to access their inner worlds. They will state parts of a poem that particularly affected and aided them in their journey of self-discovery.
Materials needed:
Ask for a student volunteer to recount the story of “My Inner World.” Ask for other volunteers to fill in any important points that might have been left out.
Ask students if they can sympathize with the way Julie feels. Do they ever wish they could just scream and make the whole world go away so they can have some peace? Do they ever wish they could find a quiet, safe, private place where they could just relax for a while with no hassles, no worries, no one bothering them? It often is in just such a place or space where people can get in touch with their true selves. Sometimes, in the quietness of our hearts, we find a great deal of truth.
Instruct students to sit back and close their eyes, or to lay their heads on their desks, if that is comfortable. They might even be allowed to lie on the floor, if there is enough room and the floor is clean and comfortable. Mention that even though they are still in school and still with a teacher and peers, you would like them to try their best to relax and find a peaceful place within.
Play soft music or sing softly or have a talented student sing or play an instrument soothingly for about ten minutes. If this is not possible, simply maintain silence for about ten minutes. Then ask the students to return to their seats quietly and assume a listening position.
Ask: “Do you feel a sense of renewed energy—a sense of calmness and clarity now? Do you feel peace?” Hopefully, they will say they do. Explain that getting in touch with the inner world almost always opens up new sources of energy in a person. It is a form of rest and renewal.
Ask students to do the Questions for Reflection.
Explain that our true self, or “the real me,” is a place of peace and rightness. There is much virtue and wisdom buried within each one of us that the noise of the world sometimes drowns out. The “real me” is a wonderful and good person who intuitively knows right from wrong and longs to live in a world of peace and in peace and happiness with all others and with nature. This is the “real me” this series hopes to awaken and uncover.
Ask the students to read the Exercise: “Family Movie” and to fill it in when they have an opportunity at home.
Class Session 2
Remind students of the story “My Inner World.” Ask them to resume the relaxed, quiet position they were in at the beginning of the last class session. Then slowly read to them this poem by Max Ehrmann, who wrote it in 1927:
Desiderata (Latin for “Things to Be Desired”)
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
Ask students to reflect on the words. Then ask them to resume listening positions. What parts of the poem struck them? Was there any part they would like to hear read again? If students want copies of the poem, perhaps it could be photocopied from the teacher’s book or copied down. Many young people have found this poem to be a good way to get in touch with their true selves or the “real me.”
Now ask students to do the Reflection Exercise: “My Inner World.”
Mention to students that if they cannot find a place to physically be at peace and away from everything and everyone, writing a journal or diary can help them escape into their deepest thoughts. Encourage them to express themselves on paper whenever they feel overflowing with emotion. Explain that this can be done in a letter form to an imaginary friend or to their parents or to some adult they imagine as a perfectly loving, totally supportive confidante who loves them completely.